Quotables: Madonna is a Lot Stronger Than We Give Her Credit For

"New York wasn't everything I thought it would be. It did not welcome me with open arms. The first year, I was held up at gunpoint. Raped on the roof of a building I was dragged up to with a knife in my back. [I] had my apartment broken into three times. I don't know why; I had nothing of value after they took my radio the first time."

--Madonna on what it was like when she first moved to New York City in the late 70's, and man. What an awful, bleak story. Did anybody really realize what she went through in order to bring "Express Yourself" and "Lucky Star" to the world? Likely not.

In the same interview, Madonna also showed us her strong side and talked about fighting for your beliefs:

"I didn't know that trying to adopt a child was going to land me in another s--- storm. I was accused of kidnapping, child trafficking, using my celebrity muscle to jump ahead in the line, bribing government officials, witchcraft, you name it. I could get my head around people giving me a hard time for simulating masturbation onstage or publishing my Sex book, even kissing Britney Spears at an awards show, but trying to save a child's life was not something I thought I would be punished for ... In any case, I got through it. I survived. One of the many things I learned from all of this: If you aren't willing to fight for what you believe in, then don't even enter the ring."

There she is, guys. Hidden beneath all of the latex and gold grills and licking as of late, is the Madonna we admire as a performer and a woman and above all, a person. Good for you, girl -- no matter what, rising above; like always, apparently. Maybe we just never noticed.

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Adopting a child should not be about "saving a child's life". If you feel you are "rescuing that child, then your motives are all wrong. Your focus when adopting a child should be the blessings that having that child in your family will bring to YOUR life. You are not a rescuer. They are the ones who are rescuing you. Did noone ever educate Madonna in this regard?

I do not believe it. The way she put the words together...she has been in the public eye how long and it has never come out that she was raped - as open as she has been about her sexuality. It's just another lie to stay in the spotlight, and shame on her.

What a lack of insight you have. You obviously dont have any children of your own, and have clearly never been through the adoption process. When adopting a child, you must not be of the mindset that you are "rescuing" them. This is one of the core principals of the adoption process. That is all I have to say to you, and will not reply further to somebody who calls a complete stranger (or anyone else) a cunt. That tells me all I need to know about you, and I have no further interest in you.

What a lack of insight you have. You obviously dont have any children of your own, and have clearly never been through the adoption process. When adopting a child, you must not be of the mindset that you are "rescuing" them. This is one of the core principals of the adoption process. That is all I have to say to you, and will not reply further to somebody who calls a complete stranger (or anyone else) a cunt. That tells me all I need to know about you, and I have no further interest in you.

Smells fishy. 30 years in the business & this is the first it's being brought up? She could have been an inspiration and an advocate for rape victims everywhere - for decades! - but instead she remained silent? Not buying it. Whoa is me, ho is me, she's a disgrace...

When a woman says she has been raped, doubting her makes it worse. It doesn't matter how she expressed what happened, it happened. She didn't go into detail because she doesn't want to relive it. Madonna's early career was quite symbolic of the hardships she faced and it was evident in her music. She's a survivor. She is a strong woman. She admitted something that nobody knew, she doesn't owe the world every aspect of her private life, but admitting to something so horrific will truly benefit others who may face the same situation.

This is not the first time she has mentioned this. She has spoken of it before at the very least 3 times. Especially in the early to mid nineties. Her fans have been aware of this- and it has been reported on widely in many biographies about her. She doesn't want sympathy- that is why she has never let it define her career- or to place her in a victimized capacity. In relation to the ENTIRE ARTICLE, for me what I believe she is trying to say is that women, even rich pop-stars, in highly developed cultures, societies, and countries, suffer from sexual, and/or other forms of opression and dominance. She was offering herself up as an example that even someone like herself has experienced it. She didn't go into detail because she didn't want to lose focus on her entire point- which requires one to read the ENTIRE PIECE. AAs far as rescuing children dying in orphanges with parents who are deam from AIDS, or other atrocities, who would dare question that being a pure or un-pure motivation or wrong on her part? We do not know this womans heart. I commend her for walking the walk- and for giving life to 2 children who would have surely died (David almost did) or her daughter who could have been subjected to female genitile mutilation amongst other heinous things, like never getting an education, and Madonna has made huge contributions to educating women and girls from Malawi to all over the Middle East. I think instead of going for Hollywood designer babies via invitro technologies, A WOMAN adopting and fighting to raise two children and give them amazing chances at life is reason enough- and who am I to question her reason? Thank God, that these two kids will have a great chance at life- and not be another statistic in unmarked graves who never even are counted. I think no matter what she does people just want to hate on her for her way of being- seeing, and doing things. Whether that be her sexuality and her provocation using it in media, or her religious views, etc, people who hate her just will. I think she has truly tried to grow as a person- and has done some wonderful things for women and girls, in undeveloped countries that suffer from severe forms of fundamentalism. So glad to see a woman who hasn't let rape destroy her life, that she didn't let it define her, she as courageous and took the heat- always has- and instead of ever letting victimization being an excuse for any errors in her life- has said she has no regrets. She overcame, and didn't let it hold her back, and that has been true of her all her career. She has done it her way. Right or wrong, who am I to judge? I applaud her.

She simulates masturbation on stage, comes out with a sex book and she wondered why it was difficult to adopt. People talk about Miley Cyrus. This woman is the epitome of no morals. Nothing to admire in her at all.